Painting Techniques: Smooshing Technique

• Smooshing paint lends the elegant look of moiré wall coverings or a simple marbled effect to a room, with a technique that is easy to use.

Step 1 - Apply the Base Color 
Paint your wall(s) with the desire color and allow to dry for 24 hours.

Step 2 - Apply Tape 
Before you apply the glaze mixture to your wall, tape off your ceiling and baseboards.

Step 3 - Prepare the Glaze Mixture 


Step 4 - Apply the Glaze 
Apply the glaze to your wall quickly. If you estimate you will eed more than 10 to 15 minutes to put the glaze on the entire wall, do it in smaller sections.

Step 5 - Drop Sheet 
Press a plastic drop sheet onto the wet glaze -- it will adhere on its own. Drop sheets of 1-mil thickness provide the best results.

Using your hands, smooth the plastic against the wall. Then wrinkle or rub it along the wall - anything that will move the plastic. It will probably not require more than five minutes to cover your entire wall.

Step 6 - Remove the Plastic 


Step 7 - Apply Glaze on Your Next Wall 
Roll the glaze on the next wall planned for your project and repeat the steps above. Make sure you use a fresh sheet of plastic for each wall.

Special Remarks:

•   Use tape to protect areas you do not plan to cover with glaze, such as windows and door frames.

•   For long walls, buy one-millimeter-thick plastic in a roll. Roll your glaze on in six-foot sections and then apply the plastic. 
Repeat for the next section until the wall is complete.

•   Use a paint brush to apply your glaze mixture around ceilings and in corners.

For the best results with other colors, use a tone-on-tone, such as a darker blue over a lighter blue.

Meredith Woolfolk